This has not been a normal year in Australian racing by any stretch of the imagination so it was probably understandable that when the runners reached the starting gates for the AUS$2.6million Caulfield Cup (Aus-I) over 12 furlongs, things would be abnormal too. And they were.

Australia's wonder mare, Miss Finland, keeps getting beaten in group I races -- but just as strangely, she keeps winning fans. It happened again Oct. 13 at Caulfield, when Maldivian trounced her to win the Yalumba Stakes (Aus-I).